Best shoes to wear after knee replacement

by | May 25, 2022 | Shoes

Best shoes to wear after knee replacement surgery:

This article is specifically written to help you choose the best shoes to wear after knee replacement surgery when you return home. This information is focused on house-shoes and day 1 to week 6 post op.

Foot Swelling After Knee Replacement Surgery

These SEEKWAY Unisex Adults Quick-Dry Aqua Socks Barefoot Non Slip Water Shoes from Amazon are great because the material will allow your foot to swell in any direction.

After knee surgery, your foot will need room to swell vertically and horizontally. Many people will require a full shoe size difference between early morning and late afternoon.

Click this link for more information on swollen feet. 

Best Shoes for Swollen Feet After Knee Replacement

Grip

The best shoes to wear after knee replacement require the right amount of grip. Too much or too little can cause problems.

Too much grip

Too much grip may cause you to catch your foot on the carpet. After a total knee replacement surgery, patients don’t walk normally. They exhibit less knee bend and as a result they easily catch the bottom of the foot during the swing phase of gait.

Too little grip

Just as dangerous as too much grip is too little grip. If you are sitting at the side of your bed with your feet on the floor, you want to know that your feet won’t slip out from under you.

Shoes after knee replacement need grip.

Easy to Clean

An important part of choosing the right shoes after a knee replacement surgery is your ability to clean your shoes. 

You might experience blood drainage or other bodily fluids that will run down your leg and onto your shoes. 

You want a pair of shoes that are machine washable or easily thrown in the sink.

These SEEKWAY Unisex Adults Quick-Dry Aqua Socks Barefoot Non Slip Water Shoes are great because they can even be worn in the shower.

Facebook Group Comments:

Member: “Absolutely no flip flops. You need something with a heel. You’re gonna be unsteady for a couple of weeks.”

Member: “I would do tennis shoes”

Member: “I wore extra wide slip on sandals.. I was told my foot may swell and it did.”

Member: “My OS said slip on shoes with enclosed toe and heal. Other shoes can be a tripping hazard.”

Member: “I bought new tie sneakers.”

Member: “I wore regular crocs”

Member: “Noooo flip flops 🙁”

Member: “I was told with physical therapy when I went the first time with flip-flops they were a no-no because they are evidently very easy to fall while wearing. I have a pair of tennis shoes that I had gotten a couple of years before made for walking I hadn’t used much so I am now wearing good fitting tennis shoes all the time. I couldn’t find any slip on shoes with heels in my house.”

My podiatrist says that I need a closed back shoe after my LTKR. No flip flops. With sandals there has to be a strap around the heel for tightening. My friend was in her kitchen wearing flip flops. She took 2 steps and tripped. She ended up cracking ribs on the edge of the counter.
Facebook Group Member

Knee Warrior

Sneakers. I can tell you that wearing flip flops was a no for me. I was told to wear sneakers, preferably slipons. I tried wearing flip flops 6 weeks post op and it hurt like crazy, apparently we use different muscles when walking in flops vs sneakers.
Facebook Group Member

Knee Warrior

The best shoes to wear after knee replacement don’t need to be expensive. If you have special orthopedic concerns and need orthotics or other specialized equipment then consider seeing a shoe specialist, but for anyone who is looking to buy something that is better than those terrible hospital socks, I believe the best shoes to wear after knee replacement is soft, easy to clean, expandable, and has the right amount of grip.

Anthony Maritato, PT

Anthony Maritato, PT

Physical Therapist

Anthony Maritato, PT has been a licensed physical therapist and private practice owner since 2006. Ohio license #PT011602.

Anthony has been passionate about helping patients recover from total knee replacement surgery as well as rotator cuff repair surgery.